Description

THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW - THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON, is a comedy about a North Carolina widower named Andy Taylor who divides his time between raising his son, Opie (Ron Howard) and being sheriff of the small and virtually crime-free town of Mayberry.With next to no crimes to solve, Andy spends time philosophizing and trying to calm down his cousin, Deputy Barney, played by Don Knotts. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

I don't want to make a big mulage, or anything
this is a wonderful collection!Great quality--- love the "lost snippets" that we never see due to television chopping these up so painfully!My ONLY complaint is about the previews on Disc 1 -- First of all, why would ANYONE who loves TAGS want to see previews to McGyver and Charmed???? puuuuleeeeeeeease!Secondly, if they MUST put previews, WHY can't we at least fast-forward them?I think it was pretty low for the company to make the previews unable to be forwarded through-- low!

The Andy Griffith Show - The Complete Second Season
For those that complain, about the 7 minutes of advertising - obviously you all don't have the kind of DVD player I have, because I had no problem hitting the fast forward button a few times to 4th speed and I'm there. I'm watching all the wonderful episodes, while everyone else is complaining. My suggestions get some cheese with your wine!
Besides if you all think you can do a better job, by all means do it and stop complaining!

GREAT TV!!!!
What A Wonderful Set!!! The Added Sponser Spots By The Cast Are Very Funny!!! Lots Of Great Guest Stars, & Terrific Episodes!!! Bill Bixby, Barbara Eden & Alan Hale!!! As For The Paramount Ads....WHO CARES!!!!!!! Ten Minutes Of Ads To Get A Season Full Of Warmth, Heart & Humor Seems Like A Small Price To Pay!!! Keep The Seasons Coming!!!!!!!!!

I'm not "forced" and I love the DVD!!!!
I agree with David.I had little problem advancing passed the commercials, so I was not "forced" to watch any of them.Of course, Paramount could have been nice and left the commercials off, but their main concern is making money, and lots of it.The inconvience of spinning through the commercials (which takes me approximately 10 seconds) is nothing when compared to the rest of the DVD's content!This is easily the best situation comedy of all time and has never stopped being aired in the nearly 45 years since it first ran on CBS.This DVD will be highlighted in my DVD collection, just as season one is.I especially like the added "original sponsor spots",many of which I don't remember ever seeing before.Does anyone know if these "spots" ran during the first season of the show?If so, I hope they tag them on to the season three set along with the season three spots.

Commercialism Destroys The Enjoyment of Mayberry
Paramount Studios (owned by Viacom) has taken their commercialism to an all time low.The Andy Griffith Show has been one of my favorite, most relaxing shows for many years.I purchased the complete 2nd season, anticipating laughs and relaxation.But, hold on.Paramount forces the viewer to sit through at least 10 MINUTES of advertisements on disc one - you cannot fast forward through it - you cannot switch to the top menu.The viewer must endure 10 miserable minutes, watching advertisements for other DVD's (which many of us have no interest in).This was not done on the complete first season.I'm seriously considering the return of this DVD set - I do not like to be exploited / forced to endure 10 unending minutes of commercial trash.I don't even watch regular TV - to avoid commercials.What a shame.What a shame that such a materialistic, moronic company owns the rights to The Andy Griffith Show.This has taught me to avoid ALL Paramount DVD's in the future.Burn me once, shame on you - there will not be a second time.

Comments / complaints can be sent to:



Paramount Studios
5555 Melrose Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90038

323.956.5000

...Tom ... Read more

Reviews (39)

NOT the original version of the show - music edited
If you are one of those idiots who says "oh shut up and stop complaining, it's just the music, waaa waaa", take your DVDs and BURN them. You know nothing about what it means for the music to be an important part of the show and are just a complete moron (I can't express in words the anger that goes through me reading someone go "it's just the music"; it's NOT just the music!!!, it's the SHOW that is screwed up!!!)
Quantum Leap is one of those shows where the music is crucial aspect of show; the music is not just some background noise; it sets the mood. The show is completely ruined and is not worth a cent without the original soundtrack. Awful job on the part of Universal.

excellent series
No matter what this series is excellent. Anyone griping about the music must remember its better to have the series on dvd rather than not available at all. Hopefully season 4 will come out soon as its my favorite!

Hey, Universal, call me when you come to your senses.
Having read that Universal once again mucked up the music, I won't be buying Season 3 of Quantum Leap.There are some shows in which the music doesn't really matter - Laverne & Shirley's first season, for example, mentions on the box that the music is different, but the songs in Laverne & Shirley are merely incidental, background sounds.In QL, the music was a major part of the show, helping to set the time period, helping to set the mood.

I have read some of the reviews from people who claim that the change in music makes no difference (generally such comments are written in a boorish, bumptious, hectoring tone, a fact which I find rather interesting and quite telling).No?Close your eyes and imagine the Lord of the Rings movies with elevator music instead of the soaring splendor of its real score.Ponder "American Graffiti" with the sort of synthesized slop that has replaced the original music in QL. Then try to tell me that music doesn't matter.

The choice is not these travesties or nothing for most QL fans; it's a choice of a poorer-quality taped-from-TV video with the real music, taking up more shelf space than a DVD set; or a better-quality picture with no commercials that has had much of the atmosphere stripped from it. I'll take my tapes, thank you very much.If Universal comes to its senses and releases QL in unmangled form, even if it costs more, I'll buy it. Until then, count me out.

Classics never get old!
I have been waiting for this season for a long time now. The series reached its peak with episodes like "The Leap Home" and "The Boogie Man". Scott and Dean do their best work when the story really gives them the chance and the episodes of the third season really give them the best chances of the entire five-year run! It is pure pleasure to watch them perform. It is a shame that they only got five years! They could have gone on for many more!!!
(BTW, if anyone is confused by the other reviewers complaints about the change in the music, don't worry about it. What you heard on TV is what you get. They didn't change the music for the DVD release - which is exactly what I thought they were complaining about!) So buy this DVD set! You won't regret it!

Forget It
Music replacement abound, once again.A truly great show is being given the shaft by Universal, who only percieves it's formidable fan base as an open wallet.Boycott.Don't listen to the soulless collectors who only want to line their DVD shelves.QL without the original music arrangements is a travesty. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Four extremely beautiful people do extremely horrible things to one another in Closer, Mike Nichols' pungent adaptation of Patrick Marber's play that easily marks the Oscar-winning director's best work in years. Anna (Julia Roberts) is a photographer who specializes in portraits of strangers; Dan (Jude Law) is an obituary writer struggling to become a novelist; Alice (Natalie Portman) is an American stripper freshly arrived in London after a bad relationship; and Larry (Clive Owen) is a dermatologist who finds love under the most unlikely of circumstances. When their paths cross it's a dizzying supernova of emotions, as Nichols and Marber adroitly construct various scenes out of their lives that pair them again and again in various permutations of passion, heartbreak, anger, sadness, vengeance, pleading, deception, and most importantly, brutal honesty. It's only until you're more than halfway through the movie that you'll have to ask yourself exactly why you are watching such a beautifully tragic tale, as Closer is basically the ickiest, grossest, most dysfunctional parts of all your past relationships strung together into one movie. Ultimately, it falls to the four actors to draw you deeper into the story; all succeed relatively, but it's Law and Owen whose characters will cut you to the quick. Law proves that yet again he's most adept at playing charming, amoral bastards with manipulative streaks, and Owen is nothing short of brilliant as the character most turned on by the energy inherent in destructive relationships--whether he's on the giving or receiving end. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (259)

4 great actors, 4 great stars
This is the story of four people: two men and two women. It souds plain simple, but the story is not so. It is not the typical story of a love quadrangle. It's a story of power, pride, self-confidence and, of course, love.

The greatest and the lowest of human condition. All for love, but all for gaining the higher respect and best appearance in front of the rest of the world.

The story is fantastic but, what to say of the actors? It is not only Portmann to take care. I think Julia Roberts makes her best acting ever. Jude Law is plain correct but Clive Owen is the great discovery for me. It is clear that this is "a film for actors", to show the best of them and they really succeed.

The only problem is that these two facts (story and acting) hide a poor direction and some minor aspects. Personally, I think the producer did the budget and realized he has nothing to spend in such details.

But it is a very recommendable movie to spend the afternoon at home. I saw it in the cinema and I had such a great impression that I hired it to see it again (and I haven't done it in more than ten times).

Shockingly Disappointing
I don't understand how anyone could enjoy this film.It was by far the worst movie I've seen this year.In fact, it was so bad that I doubt I'll be able to enjoy watching the main 4 actors ever again.

Although some people feel that watching 4 people destroy each other is beautiful, I find it to be depressing.This movie is about 4 "lovers" who use each other uncaringly, cry a lot, use the "f" word multiple times in every sentence, and who are completely unlikeable.It's like the director thought that having 4 beautiful people in a film was enough.I love a good drama, but this wasn't even close.

The plot is as shallow as the characters.The ending is very silly; we find out information that the film makers thought would create a "Usual Suspects" type of ending, but it all falls flat and seems contrived.Amazon has many better DVDs for sale than this garbage.

Mike Nichols at his best...
Genre: Dark Romance

Genre Grade: A+

Final Grade: A

This was a great movie - except it's possibly one of the most verbally sexual movies I've ever seen - but I can handle a little sex talk! There were about, I dunno, eight people or so who walked out of the movie because of the offensive language and sex talk. This movie breaks many barriers and talks about problems in relationships and tries to take a closer look at the raw emotions of affairs. The acting was Oscar-worthy from each person, Clive Owen coming out on top in my opinion. Natalie Portman was amazing as well, and Julia Roberts actually gives the audience something new.

This movie is extremely depressing, and is not a date movie unless you want to walk away feeling hopeless. It leaves us with a despairing look at humanity and our own desires, and the film brings to light things that are normally left in the bedroom or simply remain unspoken. Definitely worth seeing just for the performances (especially the amazing encounter between Julia Roberts and Clive Owen, and then later the discussion between Jude Law and Clive Owen), the AMAZING dialogue, and just because of the fact that Mike Nichols directed it.

Great Performances save this film!
This movie is hard to follow.No question about that.Most movies that are adapted from Broadway plays don't fair well on screen unless they're made from the classic playwrights (Tennessee Williams, David Mamet, Eugene O'Neill, etc.).Many of the negative reviews here on Amazon.com expecting more action are justified.However, I found the movie to be better than expected.Mike Nichols is one of Hollywood's finest directors.And with four of the best actors around, he does very will with the challenging subject matter.Natalie Portman has become the "Harrison Ford" of the Star Wars genre by breaking out into a great Oscar nominated role.British TV star Clive Owen also breaks free of his shell with his excellent performance.Juila Roberts & Jude Law round out this excellent cast.If you can stay with it for the performances, you'll be amused.

One of the worst movies I've ever seen
I was really excited about seeing this, since it got such good reviews. Boy, was I surprised. This movie is so depressing, with everyone cheating on each other and getting hurt. There was a review that said that this is a real love story, but if that's true we all might as well throw in the towel. If you like feeling like you want to slit your wrists, then watch the movie. If not, definitely look elsewhere. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

wow!!!this really is SUMMER MAGIC
what can i say hayley mills is a disney legend,and this movie is one of her masterpeices beside THE PARENT TRAP,THE MOON-SPINNERS,POLLYANNA...and many other disney films this movie has an excellent plot and a wonderful cast i give this 5 stars!!!

Delightful picture
This picture may not be rich in plot but it has a wonderful air about it that will make you feel good all over.When I was a child I begged my parents to take me to this movie. My parents ignored me and took me to a movie they wanted to see. As it turned out the movie they wanted to see had a sneak preview of Summer Magic. For years I have resisted purchasing this Hayley Mills classic. I don't know why I waited. It is excellent.

Corny
This movie is very corny. It is also annoying. It is a little unrealistic that everything would work out so well for this family. It is horribly corny. It is unbelieveable because Hayley Mills has a British accent and her family does not. Burl Ives's role is also cheesy (what else is new), and the name of the dude who owns the house's name is stolen from the bass player is Aerosmith, Tom Hamilton. The movie glorifies old ideals, such as country being better than the city. U should stay away from this one. It is not worth a stinking penny.

It's really good!
I love the end part when the owner of the house shows up and they dance and everyone just stares at him. Isn't he cute?

Soft Summer Magic
Hi! I'm Becky age 14. I've watched this a couple times, and loved it all the times. It does not include any offensive words, or anything eles concernig PG-13 movies. I wasn't around when Hayley Mills was a huge star or seen the rest of her movies or anything, but she did a wonderful job of acting. The special effects aren't incredably great by todays standards, but include that Disney Magic. Oh yeah, and the plot it great, a little slow in parts, but still great. This got boring after a while, so rent it a video rental store before you by it. Have fun! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An Excellent, But Short-lived Sci-Fi TV Series
Michael Duggan, Carol Flint, Mark Levin and Billy Ray created an interesting concept for a new sci-fi TV program.Airing in the fall of 1994, their show was entitled "Earth 2" and was set 200 years in the future."Earth 2" painted a very dark future for mankind in which the Earth is no longer capable of supporting terrestrial life.Consequently, the surviving members of the human race have been living in orbiting space stations; but living in the sterile environments has created a sickness called the Syndrome.A wealthy woman named Devon Adair (Debrah Farentino) is convinced that the key to mankind's survival, including her Syndrome-infected son Ulysses 'Uly' Adair (Joey Zimmerman), is to once again live in a natural environment.Gathering 250 other Syndrome-infected families, she pursues the establishment of a colony on a planet named G889 orbiting a star 22 light-years away; but the current government has other plans for planet G889. Undeterred, Devon, her son and some of the other 250 families embark on a ship named "Eden Advance" for G889 to establish a community in advance of the main colonization; but the ship has been sabotaged.The ship arrives at G889, but the ship soon explodes.Stranded on G889, the ship's survivors attempt to settle and begin new lives on G889.The survivors include Devon, Uly, engineer John Danziger (Clancy Brown), his daughter True (J. Madison Wright), pilot Alonzo Solace (Antonio Sabato Jr.), Dr. Julia Heller (Jessica Steen), Earth-government representative Morgan Martin (John Gegenhuber), his wife Bess (Rebecca Gayheart) and Uly's cyborg teacher Yale (Sullivan Walker).

Unfortunately, lower than expected ratings for the series caused its cancellation after its first season; so only a total of 22 episodes were ever produced. These episodes include the following:

1. "First Contact (1)".The embarkation to G889, destruction of the ship and survivors reaching the planet's surface.G889 is inhabited by subterranean natives called Terrians.

2. "First Contact (2)".Uly is abducted by Terrians, but he is returned after they heal him from they Syndrome.

3. "The Man Who Fell to Earth (Two)". An astronaut who had previously crash-landed on G889, Gaal (Tim Curry), kills the commander (Richard Bradford).Solace has Terrian dreams.

4. "Life Lessons". Gaal tries to disrupt the survivors' encampment.

5. "Promises, Promises".Gaal abducts several Terrians; but the colonists free them. Gaal disappears underground and is never seen again.

6. "A Memory Play".The colonists discover a third escape pod with people infected by a woman that had been implanted by the government to sabotage the ship.Grendler saliva is the cure.

7. "Water". Devon & Dazinger search for water.

8. "The Church of Morgan". Morgan & Bess argue while Dr. Heller contemplates removing Uly's pineal gland; but Uly is becoming an evolutionary link with the Terrians.

9. "The Enemy Within". Dr. Heller injects some of Uly's DNA into herself, she goes nuts and is abandoned.

10. "Redemption". Dr. Heller rejoins the colonists thanks to Solace.

11. "Moon Cross". A woman, Mary (Kelli Williams), is found living among the Terrians, who want Uly to be their link with colonists.

12. "Better Living Through Morganite (1)". As Yale regains his memory, Morgan finds glowing rocks.

13. "Better Living Through Morganite (2)".Mary saves Yale from Terrian punishment after he's been captured (along with Morgan and Bess) and finds out he's not a criminal.

14. "Grendlers in the Myst". The colonists believe they have located a killer, but he's only the son of the real killer that's now only a hologram.

15. "The Greatest Love Story Never Told". Danzinger comes across a colony of reformed criminals

16. "Brave New Pacifica". Two scavenging Grendlers come across a box containing human blood.

17. "After the Thaw". Dazinger is possessed by a an evil Terrian's spirit.

18. "The Boy Who Would be Terrian King". A future version of Uly travels back in time to have Devon hide some his blood.

19. "Survival of the Fittest".Several colonists start to act strange after consuming a Grendler when they are stranded.

20. "All About Eve".Dying from a mysterious disease, the colonists find a crashed ship from 100 years ago whose computer may explain the cure.

21. "Natural Born Grendlers". Solace gets depressed about being marooned while Devon & Bess trade for supplies with a friendly Grendler.

22. "Flower Child".Dazinger & Bess have strange symptoms after being sprayed with a native plant's pollen.

Overall, I rate "Earth 2-The Complete Series" with 5 out of 5 stars. It's a shame that this show was not given sufficient opportunity to continue past its first and only season.

G889 on DVD at last!
Long-awaited by fans to come to home video, Earth 2 chronicles the first months of survival for a small party of human colonizers stranded on what seems to be an ideal terraform world.Emerging from a mildly dystopian, bureaucratic, and ecologically disastrous future in which much of humanity has moved onto space stations, this planet - G889, or "Earth 2" - is a veritable Shangri-La.Sabotaged by a manipulative orbiting government, however, the crew is faced with a paranoid landscape in which they cannot trust each other at first, or the initial appearance of G889. Some of these colonists intended to make landfall on the planet, others didn't, and none of them anticipated the trials they would face from the planet, from each other, and from a distant but subtly menacing Earth.They must form a cooperative band to not only survive, but acclimate to this strange planet while trekking to the site of their planned advance colony before a large colony ship arrives.

After a decade in which the only available copies of these 21 episodes were those recorded from the original (and occasional syndication) broadcasts, and after recent petitioning by a dedicated core of fans, Earth 2 finally comes to DVD.Though not inherently creative (many of the show's aliens, incidents and general plot themes could be found throughout science fiction literature and films), Earth 2 did weave together disparate fiction conventions in unique and often charming ways to produce a literal wagon train in the stars.Underlying themes of environmentalism, indigenous rights, female empowerment, and repentance, though, added a substance to what might have otherwise been a bland, repetitive imitation of other science fiction.Although occasionally hokey and even melodramatic (i.e., time-lapse cloud footage and poor music video-quality "dreamscape" scenes do degrade the show at times), this short-run series remained entertaining, consistent, and resonant to real-world issues; it continues to be on the eve of its return to television via this 3-disc DVD set.The set is likely scant on extra features, as the series was filmed before making-of specials for television shows had become the ubiquitous smorgasbord DVD consumers have come to expect on current series' releases.However, the episodes alone are worth the purchase.

Fans of more recent television series, such as "Firefly" (though Earth 2 admittedly lacks the verbal wit and relative sophistication of Joss Wedon's sci-fi series), may enjoy giving these discs a spin.Readers of Niven's "Ringworld" series or Robinson's "Mars" series may also be interested in giving Earth 2 a try. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

A working girl's dream job!
I recently bought this tape again after I wore out my old one! The scenery in this film is truly beautiful as well as that of the many fountains. The movie starts off with three young ladies, one of which just arrives in Rome to start a new job taking over for another girl returning to America to be married. All three young ladies go through the trials and errors of finding love interests in the romantic city. One finds her handsome prince, one finds a hunky, floundering student and the third falls for her novelist older boss. All three ending up with their heart's desire. Guess those coins in the fountain paid off! Sure wish it was that easy these days!! Truly a delightful film.

One of the Most Romantic Beginnings in Any Hollywood Movie
I don't think you'll find much to top this opener, with the fountains of Rome being turned on one by one while Frank Sinatra croons an ulta-smooth rendition of the title song. Ohhhh!
This movie has a lot going for it after the opening song too, (unlike "Raintree County" for instance), so you'll be riveted to the screen. For starters, it's a wonderful travelogue of Rome, in glorious technicolor. And then, it boasts three of my favorite actors, none of whom ever gave a bad performance: Clifton Webb, Louis Jourdan, and Rosanno Brazzi.
These men each figure in a love story with one of three American secretaries living in Rome, respectively Dorothy McGuire, Maggie McNamara, and Jean Peters. In Webb's case, he is McGuire's boss, and has been totally unaware of her real feelings these past ten years. Jourdan is a wealthy playboy used to preying on innocent young girls who's having the tables turned on him by the very predatory McNamara. And lovelorn Rosanno Brazzi--who always makes my pulse flutter--has been pining after Peters, but afraid to tell her of his love, since he believes her engaged to another. How these unlikely scenarios resolve themselves is a delight for the viewer. Take my advice on this one: If you want to be swept away some night by romantic escapism, "Three Coins in the Fountain" is your best bet.

Great story, great cast and superb cinematography
I saw this movie when I was a child and liked it. Then saw it many times on TV and at a special screening in New York.The best thing about it I discovered is the dialog. It's smart and funny - of course, the script was written by a Pulitzer prize winner: John Patrick.
The film was nominated for an Oscar as Best Picture of 1954, and actually won for Best Cinematography and Best Song
The cast is marvelous - most outstanding are Jean Peters and Rossano Brazi (who are the best looking couple and also share the best story of the three featured in the film)and Clifton Webb, who delivers his lines full of sarcasm and innuendos with perfect timing.
The film's most valued asset is its photography by Milton Krasner. Although many will remember "Roman Holiday" as capturing the best of Rome, this film is much more superior visually - and in color and glorious wide screen Cinemascope.

romance is not that easy in Rome!
This movie tracks one month is the lives of 3 American secretaries working in Rome. It opens with the newest girl being picked up at the station and brought back to the apartment, where the other 2 fill her in on how hard romance is in the Eternal City. One even says she is returning to the USA to get married -- although there is actually no fiancee in question --- just to protect herself and her reputation.

There is to be no fraternizing with other employees -- after all, they are told, they are only secretaries -- but when one falls for a coworker she gets them both into trouble. Another has spent 15 years as the secretary to a great novelist who is obvlivious to her feelings for him. And another goes about being a "Rules Girl" (it IS the 1950s), learning everything about her Italian Prince Charming and pretending to like all the same things as he does, but then feeling horrible for misleading him.

Charming and beautifully filmed, this is a romantic film for audiences of all generations.

THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN
I LIKED THIS MOVIE BUT I THOUGHT THE REMAKE WITH LONI ANDERSON WAS MUCH BETTER. I'D LIKE TO BUY THAT VERSION BUT DONT SEE IT LISTED. ANY SUGGESTIONS? ... Read more

Amazon.com

Tony Kushner's prize-winning play Angels in America became thedefining theatrical event of the 1990s, an astonishing mix of philosophy,politics, and vibrant gay soap opera that summed up the Reagan era for anentire generation of theater-goers. Post-9/11 wouldseem to be too late for a film version--philosophy and politics don'talways age well--but this 2003 HBO adaptation, ably directed by Mike Nichols(The Graduate), provides a time capsule of the '80s and reveals thedeep emotional subcurrents that will give the play lasting power.

The story centers around Prior Walter(Justin Kirk) and Louis Ironson (Ben Shenkman), a gay couple that fallsapart when Prior grows ill as a result of AIDS. But cancer is not the onlything invading Prior's life: He begins to have religious visions of anangel (Emma Thompson, Sense and Sensibility) announcing that he isa prophet. Louis, who doesn't cope well with disease and suggestions ofmortality, leaves and starts a relationship with Joe Pitt (PatrickWilson), a closeted Mormon who works for Roy Cohn (Al Pacino, Dog DayAfternoon)--the real-life right-wing lawyer, notorious for hisruthless behind-the-scenes machinations. Add in Joe's depressed andhallucinating wife Harper (Mary Louise Parker, Fried GreenTomatoes), his determined but open-minded mother Hannah (Meryl Streep,Adaptation), a fierce drag queen/nurse named Belize (JeffreyWright, Basquiat, reprising his celebrated performance from theBroadway production), and you've still only begun to discover the wealthof characters and storylines in Kushner's ambitious work.

Thepowerhouse cast (also featuring James Cromwell, Michael Gambon, and SimonCallow) is uniformly superb. The script has its weaknesses--some of thefantastic elements, including Prior's journey to Heaven towards the end,fall flat--but even what doesn't work is bristling with ideas and aferocious desire to capture human existence in this time and place.--Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (20)

A profound human dimension amid the politics and pain
A jaw-dropping film adaptation of Tony Kushner's epic, 5-hour play, which was a defining artistic statement documenting the political and social upheaval that AIDS-HIV disease brought to America's gay community and to the wider America around it. Mixing agitprop and camp with magical realism and utter, heart-rending, pathos, Kushner and director Mike Nichols bring the story to the screen in a big, big way, with all-around amazing performances by a perfectly cast ensemble. Al Pacino gets to chew up yards of scenery in his portrayal of the sleazy, venal, far-rightwing attorney Roy Cohn (who acted as Joe McCarthy's point man in the infamous 1950s prosecution of "atom spies" Julius and Ethel Rosenberg) and for once, all of Pacino's high-decibel yelling pays off with some real dramatic ooompf.

There are a lot of things that you could comment on in this play -- the exploration of Jewish-American assimilation, the powerful reaffirmation of a supposedly marginalized leftist perspective, etc. -- but the most profound insight Kushner has to offer is about who the real redeeming angels will have to be in our nation's coming cultural reconciliation. The humanity that he is able to impart into the character of the middle-American Mormon, Mother Pitt (played faultlessly by Meryl Streep), is a marvel of modern political drama: and it rings undeniably true. Pushing past our narrowly defined social and political "roles," and into our shared humanity, is the only road open to folks who want to see America's moral and ethical core liberated from the ideological intrusions of the religious far-right, and the resulting frustrated anger of the disenfranchised middle-liberal-left. In a strictly us-vs-them world view, Mother Pitt would be derided by those on the we're-here-we're-queer Left... but as many people have learned, particularly amid the devastating upheavals of the HIV crisis, our real emotional lives are (ideally) not ruled by dogma. Mother Pitt isn't just a caring parent, she's also a kind, pragmatic person, and for her, the most pragmatic choice when confronted with an epidemic, is to simply offer sympathy and solace. What could be more natural? Let's hope her example prevails.

The CITIZEN KANE of the Modern Era
My expectations were high when I learned that HBO was going to spend over $60 million on an adaptation of Tony Kushner's extraordinary 6-hour epic play, but I could nt have imagined that the resulting film would move to the top of my list of best films ever made in the United States - but that is precisely what Angels in America has done.

Streep and Pacino deliver the finest performances of their careers here (Streep in 4 roles!). Emma Thompson is radiant. And the performances of Jeffrey Wright, Mary-Louise Parker, Justin Kirk and Ben Shenkman positively shine.

And the WRITING and DIRECTION! As close to Shakespearean as any American work I have ever read. And scenes that captivate in their composition and lighting, in their structure and their content. And a magical blending of profundity, humor, pathos, tragedy, and ultimately, the triumph of the human spirit over desperation and resignation. A musical score to match the high levels of word and vision.

In short, this film is nothing short of miraculous. All who worked on this masterpiece should be proud of their achievement. Angels in America stands as testimony to what the human mind can accomplish at its finest and most creative.

Simply the best movie I've seen in years....
HBO should've released this movie in movie theaters. I saw it at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco and it was a fantastic experience. Seeing it on TV is great, but.... Oh well, just enjoy! The acting, story, and filmography are amazing.

awesome
I started to watch the series using the on demand feature of our cable company and then it went away before I got to watch the whole thing. I can't wait to get the dvd so I can finish watching it and have it to watch again and again. Having been around when this was all going down makes this series really hit home. The acting is superb as are the special effects.

beyond wonderful
If they had released this movie in the theaters, there would not have been enough Academy awards to give to the writer, the director, and the wonderful cast. Who should get Best Actor? Al Pacino as the loathesome Roy Cohn or Justin Kirk as the dying Prior Walter? Who should get Best Actress? Meryl Streep as the practical, compassionate Mormon housewife, or Emma Thompson as the beautiful, terrifying angel? This series had me riveted to the TV set. I could not do anything but watch. Get this movie. You owe it to yourself to witness one of the major artistic events of the decade. ... Read more

Reviews (149)

Extravaganza!
"Monsoon Wedding" is unlike any other wedding movie you have ever seen -- funny, sad, romantic, sexy, and full of whirling music and color. With superb acting and a lovingly fragmented storyline, this is an amazing movie. You'll feel all warm and fuzzy after seeing it. Love is in the air in Delhi!

An extended Verma family is overjoyed when Aditi, the daughter of the house, agrees to an arranged marriage with a young man now living in Texas. Unfortunately, she is only doing this because she doesn't believe her married lover will get divorced and marry her. As the wedding preparations swirl around her, she wobbles on the line of rebellion -- especially when she begins to really like her future husband.

Like the charming "Waking Ned Devine," this is one of those great movies that doesn't use a single stereotype; you could imagine these people in any part of the world. And like "Waking," the main plot isn't the only one: There is a charmingly hesitant romance between the harried, marigold-munching wedding planner and a shy young maid, a frustrated young boy's hopes to become a chef, a young woman trying to keep her niece safe, and a budding attraction between a pair of very photogenic teenagers. Of course, there are the staples of a wedding movie -- first everyone is giddy and love-obsessed, then they're freaking out because the tents aren't waterproofed. One of the funniest scenes has Aditi's frazzled mom going out shopping with curlers in her hair.

The direction in this movie is exquisite. Nair manages to capture actions as small as a girl tucking a flower in her hair, and makes it a vital element in the plot; at the same time, there is the camera swooping and ducking as a girl does a sexy, rollicking dance for the wedding crowd, cutting between a sweet, intimate wedding ceremony and the bouncing, joyous bigger ceremony. The colors of the movie are dazzling without ever being garish. The biggest problem is that often handheld cameras are used, and the result was making me dizzy. And English, Hindi and Punjabi are all spoken, sometimes shifting in mid-sentence, so keep your eye on the subtitles.

The actors are one of the best elements of "Monsoon Wedding." You don't get acting like this in most movies. The actors often will go through a scene with only one or two words, but their faces and eyes eloquently show what the characters are feeling. Vasundhara Das is pretty good as the conflicted Aditi, although she is probably the weakest performance of the film; Parvin Dabbas is charming and sensitive as her very tolerant fiancee; Naseerudin Shah is wonderful as Aditi's father, who is put in a horribly difficult position while under wedding stress; and Shefali Shetty crackles with repressed emotion as Ria. Tilotamma Shome is adorable as the maid Alice, and Vijay Raaz is delightful as her suitor.

There is some profanity, not really any violence. There is a bit of smut, but nothing too substantial -- the most disturbing element is a serial child molester going after Aditi's young cousin, and former victim Ria speaking out against him. These scenes are the only ones without a trace of humor or sweetness, and it makes them all the more intensely sad and powerful. And the soundtrack is outstanding, a mix of traditional Indian music and rollicking pop that had me bouncing in my seat.

"Monsoon Wedding" is a charming, delightful romantic comedy that makes the whole tired "wedding fiasco" plot seem fresh and charming again. So bring out the marigolds!

Awesome Movie- at last on DVD
This movie is awesome. Story line is funny, but not in a Jerry Seinfeld way- it's more sophisticated in nature. A superb love story between a soon-to-be-married girl, who's also scoring her ex-bf when the wedding procedure is going on, with a US returned handsome young man. They had their respect for this arranged marriage, and the groom decided he'll continue with the marriage even though he gets quite upset knowing that the bride still had relationship with her ex. When he bursts into emotions, she bursts into cry- perfect indian emotional outburst that leads the guy to let go all wrong of her soon-to-be bride. There is also a love thingie going on between the maid and the wedding planner- a very touchy poor class love story. There's also mention of a paedophile, which definitely is the reason why it was rated R, apart from some sexual situations. With traditional hindi wedding songs, and some western-minded views, this movie is definitely a milestone in indian film making. Thanks to Mira Nair, people from all over the world came to know about modern Indians once again. Recommended: Asoka (Quite like BraveHeart of India), DevDas (great emotional lovestory based on a Bengali classic novel), Salam Bombay (another movie by Mira Nair) and finally Maya Memsahib.

Once is Not Enough...
I rented this movie and enjoyed it so much that I immediately rewound it and watched it again; now THAT'S a first! And it was even better the second time around, as I didn't have to concentrate so hard for fear of missing something.

Cross-cultural/generational and traditional vs. modern themes have always been a favorite of mine, but here these ideas are explored in layered levels, w/ all of their subtle complexities. There is nothing hackneyed in this presentation. There are various subplots weaving throughout, carrying the viewer through many twists and turns at a perfect pace. Observing the wedding planner Dubey (Vijay Raaz) as he falls in love is especially sweet and charming and funny. Yet this film is by no means a frivolous fluff piece. It has its dramatic and unexpected moments, which serve to enrich one's understanding and empathy for the characters involved.

Oh, and did I mention that the music is delightful? Can't wait to get my copy of the soundtrack (it's on order) to play in the car. I'm also eager to view some of Mira Nair's other films, since she certainly did a superb job with "Monsoon Wedding".

one of the best
one of best movies I have seen

Great Movie
I watched this without any ideas about the script and actors/director. Probably have just read somewhere that it was a pretty good film. It started out slow, had my usual convictions about "ah..an Indian film, with people dancing and singing, and with funny accents when trying to speak English". But the film was funny, sweet, sexy & romantic, serious, dramatic and poignant all at different times. It turned out to be a most remarkable film, one of the best film ever produced. And best of all, the film was made in only thirty days, and was hit with things like actors' last minute withdrawals and casting of many first time actors/actresses. I'd never noticed!!! Better than most films Hollywood had produced since with budgets ten or a hundred times its size. You must watch this if you have the chance. Not to be missed. ... Read more

Reviews (131)

Jennifer's The Graduate Review
The film The Graduate is a classic 1967 release that is directed by Mike Nichols and released by Embassy Pictures. The film earned $50 million in 1968, which is number one money maker in that time.
Director, Nichols, won the Academy Award for Best Director. The film was also nominated for 6 other Awards, Best Picture, Best Actor and Actress, and Best Supporting Actress. The soundtrack featuring songs by Simon and Garfunkel was gold in 1968 and "Mrs. Robinson" was number one on the charts for four weeks.
College grad (Dustin Hoffman) does what his parents and other people tell him to do including family friend Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) who tells him to have an affair with her. Then he falls in love with her daughter Eliane Robinson (Katherine Ross), and finally finds something he wants to do with his life.
I give this film 4 stars because I thought Dustin Hoffman did a good job. I thought that the music complimented the movie nicely as well. It was a good film.

always relevant no matter what year you graduated!
This movie put Dustin Hoffman on the map -- it is the tale of Ben (Hoffman) and his uncertainty about what to do with his post-collegiate future (despite his neighbor's advice that the future is in plastics.) At his graduation party, he meets up with longtime family friend Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) who proceeds to seduce him ("I think you're the most attractive of my parents' friends, Mrs. Robinson.") They have a secret affair for quite some time.

Then, Ben's parents think it would be nice if he dates Elaine, that nice Mrs. Robinson's daughter! They set up the date, paying no attention to Ben's wishes against it. He acts like a complete jerk during the date so Elaine won't like him, then ends up falling for her anyway. This ends up with him proposing to her later, even when she has decided to marry someone else. The wedding scene is dramatic, and has been parodied on everything from Wayne's World 2 to The Simpsons.

The writing is hilarious, and Hoffman's delivery is great - upon seeing Elaine's finacee approaching them, he gives the sarcastic praise: "He's a good walker!" I love Ben's mom's over-the-top scream of delight when Ben announces he is getting married -- though he hasn't actually asked Elaine yet. And in the scene at the zoo, when Ben is left alone watching Elaine walk off with her fiancee, the camera cuts from the actors to a pair of monkeys grooming each other, and then to a lonesome gorilla. (I think they were trying to be dramatic but I found it funny.)

The Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack is great, and the acting is superb. Ben's father is played by William Daniels, also known as the voice of KIT on the 80s show "Knight Rider" and Mr. Feeny on "Boy Meets World". Ben's landlord at a boarding house is Norma Fell, Three's Company's 'Mr. Roper' (does he always play a landlord?). A great film!

THE Coming of Age Movie
This one is fantastic and very relevant even now a days. Dustin Huffman's breakout film has wonderful performances by all of the actors, a great story, beautiful filmography and a fantastic sound track by Simon and Garfunkle.

Bad movie, no donut
I was 21 when this came out, it was pointless then and still is.
Hoffman was no actor and still is not.

A Beautifully Crafted Film
This movie is a classic example of how good films were even as recent as the 1960's. The plot itself is not so original (young man has an affair with older married woman), however the movie is done in such an artistic way that the affair itself is put in the backseat for most of the film. If this movie were to be remade today, it would have been very sexualy charged and raunchy will the majority of the content focusing on the actual affair itself. However because this movie was made during a time when true quality and craftsmanship was appreciated, the themes are delicate and subtle. It really makes you use your imagination and look deeper into the storyline, rather than just the obvious. The backdrop (Southern & Northern California), the wonderful musical score (Simon & Garfunkel) and great cast made this movie very worthwhile to see as well. If you enjoy movies made with thought and care behind it, you should definitely check this one out! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Like The Gumball Rally (1976) before it, former stuntman Hal Needham's The Cannonball Run was inspired by the same real-life cross-country road race. If The Gumball Rally was the critical favorite, The Cannonball Run was the box-office favorite (spawning the almost-as-successful sequel, Cannonball Run II, a few years later). Aside from top-billed stars Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise (stars of Needham's Smokey and the Bandit series) plus Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. (as horny priests), the movie features many of the same actors (Bert Convy, Jamie Farr) that could be found on a typical '80s episode of The Love Boat (along with the same caliber of writing). But as the tagline notes, "You'll never guess who wins"--and it's true. As in most road-race movies, it's the journey that counts, not the destination. This particular journey includes cool cars (like Adrienne Barbeau's black Lamborghini), crazed bikers (led by Peter "Easy Rider" Fonda), hot martial arts action (from Jackie Chan as a Japanese racecar driver), a conspicuously braless Farrah Fawcett (recipient of a Golden Raspberry nomination for her performance), and possibly the most egregious use of product placement featured in a movie up until that time (one vehicle has "GMC Trucks" noted prominently along the top of the windshield, another has "Hawaiian Tropic" painted on the hood). As with many of the films Jackie Chan has made for Golden Harvest, the Hong Kong-based production company behind The Cannonball Run, wacky outtakes are included during the closing credits. --Kathleen C. Fennessy ... Read more

Reviews (53)

They defnitly dont make em like this anymore!!!!!
Growing up watching two of Hal Needems best movies "Cannonball 1 & 2" and "smokey and the bandit 1, 2, 3" Ive mayured into realising that they just dont make them like this anymore! As said during the commentary, the script was no "gone with the wind" but who cares? These movies are for fun. And its great to see so many actors get together and have a great time making this fun, funny, action, car race accross the USA from sea to shining sea!

With such a great cast, its somthign you dont see too often with the amount of actors that where put into this movie! Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Farrah Fawcett, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jnr, Roger Moore, and so many other great cameos and actors in this film! Including the introduction role to introduce Jackie Chan into the American market! This was Jackies first English speaking movie!

This whacky car race accross the states, involves some of the best stunts caught on film! Hal Needham sure knew what he was doing when he put this classic together!

Unfortunalty it dosent come with much of a bonus feature selection, theres an Audio Commetry with a couple of insighfull things about the movie. And the usual cast and bio thing. But it would have been great to see deleted scenes, but they probably dont exsist anymore? but that dosent drag this great fun for all action ride!

I recomend you buy it with Cannonball 2. As I think Cannonball 2 is one of the rare seaqulls that was just as great as the original! And if they ever release Speed Zone (known as Cannonball Fever in other places) I'd recomedn getting that one too!

If you like whacky ,over the top, crazy, action, comedys with alot of great stunts with vehicles, then this is the top of the list for anyones collection!

Fast paced and funny from sea to shining sea.
In this first movie to actually carry the word "Cannonball" in the title, was penned by the genius of Brock Yates, who in 1971, organized and raced in the first "Cannonball Run." Burt Reynolds in his comedic element as "J.J. McClure" who decides to make this trip to California in the guise of an ambulance driver. At his side, is Dom DeLuise who occasionally drifts out of reality when the going gets tough into a self-contrived super hero named "Captain Chaos."

Other stars joining in the challenge are Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, driving a Ferrari dressed as priests.

Adrienne Barbeau and Tara Buckman provide some stimulating appearances as Marcy and Jill in a Lamborhini that looks somewhat like Darth Vaders personal space ship.

There's an hillarious fight scene towards the end of the film featuring Peter Fonda and Jackie Chan that will keep you smiling for days.

Even after twenty years, still wonderfully refreshing and entertaining. Don't miss it. :)

CAN'T COMPARE WITH "The Gumball Rally".
I bought this movie on DVD because it was on sale and "The Gumball Rally" DVD was no where in sight (because it's not on DVD). I have never seen this movie until now but having watched I would happily take my $8.00 back if offered.

The best part of the movie is the opening session, one sleek black Lamborghini tearing up the road. The rest is ridiculous and corny.

More emphasis should have been placed on the cars rather than the actors, actresses, and corny stuff. "The Gumball Rally" did a better job with two lovely cars and serious acting mixed with just the right amount of comedy; not corny and ridiculous antics.

Scenes of beautiful actresses in this movie are nice but who needs it if there are beautiful cars and who wants to see an ambulance go cross country, that killed me. Buy "The Gumball Rally" instead if it ever comes out on DVD. If you still have a (soon to be antique) VHS player then your lucky and can buy it now.

If you really want this movie though buy my copy for four bucks so I can take back 50% of my loss. It's only been used once and I won't use it again.

I am Captain Chaos!
Well seeing this for the first time has changed my alter ego to "him" AKA Captain Chaos on the IRC. Too bad the two good looking chicks didn't get more time though.

The second movie was so so the chimp making phun of people was kinda dumb..will there be a third? who knows.

/me gets a captain chaos costume a bunch of friends ready to drive cross country (with cameras) walla Cannonball Run 3.. Fort Walton Beach, FL to Hawthorne, CA.

(It would be fun)

-
Rob
--

http://www.robfwb.com

They dont make movies like this anymore
Whatever happened to movies that were just plain FUN?

This is a hilarious movie that never gets old, despite the fact that it was released in 1982. Big name starts (at the time) Burt Reynolds, Dom Deluise, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Farrah Fawcett, Terry Bradshaw, Mel Tillis, Roger Moore, Jamie Farr, and...some unknown guy named Jackie Chan, all race against each other in The Cannonball Run, a race from sea to shining sea.

This movie is way better than its sequel, the Cannonball Run 2.
Fans of Smokey and The Bandit, also starring Burt Reynolds, will love this movie for the cars, the women, and the laughs. Buy this movie! ... Read more

Description

Members of an Antarctic research team are killed off by a frozen alien they uncover. ... Read more

Reviews (135)

The Finest Thing Movie Ever!
The Thing From Another World is the mother of all aliens attack the world films. Most people think immediately of John Carpenter's version of this story. It is an unfortunate comparison because the two films could not be further apart in story, style or intent. Where the modern version relies on gory effects and the star power of Kurt Russel to carry the day, the original film has none of that. The great director, Howard Hawks, is probably best remembered for his westerns, and his work with John Wayne. As Producer, Hawks brings a masters touch and a history of being one of the greatest storytellers in American cinema to this film. Even though Christian Nyby directed the film, Hawk's style is evident in the retstrained pacing, crisp banter and short but absolutely stunning action sequences. The viewer barely sees The Thing, played by a younger James Arness except in brief and savage action sequences. We have to wait until finally in the film's exciting finale he is revealed in full. The creature is unlike the modern take on the alien lifeform. The Thing is human in design, with a minimal approach the the make up. No spewing orifices, shooting mandibles or acid blood here. This Thing is a relentless, intelligent being who keeps upping the stakes, staying one step ahead of the heroes in a tense game of cat and mouse, with the fate of the entire world in balance. The cast is one of the great ensembles of all time. The dialogue is terse, witty and sparse. All of the archetypical heroes are here, the brave Army officer, the beautiful ex-girlfriend, the scientist who is so naive and trusting that he would be willing to risk the world in the pursuit of knowledge. The setting, an isolated, weather whipped outpost on the continent of Antartica is a wonderful, eerie backdrop for the grim proceedings to come. There are so many cinematic and entertainment reasons to enjoy this masterpiece that it would be easy to overlook the messages that Hawks delivers with this seemingly straight forward film. Science for science's sake can be destructive. A people must be aware of external threats and be prepared to defend against them. A nation must work together and recognize that strong leadership is necessary when a crisis is looming. All favorite themes of the times when this film was made. It was made at the inception of the Red Scare in America. In a sense it is a facist piece of work, but taken as a whole, it is so exciting and so crisp in execution that one can forgive and overlook the undercurrent of paranoia that permeates the work. Every generation of science fiction fans should be required to see this film, The Innocents and The Bride of Frankenstein so they can see how it was all done first, and in many cases better.

The classic 1950's science fiction film of cold war paranoia
"The Thing From Another World" remains the best of the 1950's black & white science fiction films, avoiding both the fake monsters of "Them," its ideological counterpart, and the piety of "The Day the Earth Stood Still." I still remember the first time I saw this movie and realized that here were characters who talked as fast as I did. I know Robert Altman and "M*A*S*H" get the credit for "inventing" over-lapping dialogue, but that seems a bit absurd to me after watching the conversation and group discussions throughout this film. I am teaching a Science Fiction literature class for the first time this semester and I wanted them to also watch an example of a classic 1950s science fiction film and this film was my immediate choice.

As John Carpenter reminded us in his 1982 "remake," the 1951 version is not even remotely faithful to John W. Campbell, Jr.'s classic sci-fi short story, "Who Goes There?" Campbell wrote of a stranger visitor from another planet who could take on human appearance, so that the problem was that you never knew if the guy sitting next to you was your buddy or the monster. "The Thing" offers a monster from outer space, but with atmosphere, pacing and wit rarely seen on the silver screen. Charles Lederer gets screen credit for the script, but we know know both Howard Hawks and Ben Hecht had a hand in the writing as well (you can find Lederer's original script on line to check out the differences for yourself), and it has been taken as gospel for years that Hawks had some hand in the direction as well (as did Orson Welles according to some). After all, this was Christian Nyby's first screen credit as a director and he went on to direct mostly television series from "Gunsmoke" to "Kojak." Whatever the background of the story, what is important is that this film manages to combine claustrophobia, xenophobia, paranoia and hypothermia into a first rate chiller.

The story is relatively simple. Something crashes in the arctic near a scientific station and Air Force Captain Patrick Hendry (Kenneth Tobey) and his crew fly on up to see what is going on. The station is run by Dr. Arthur Carrington (Robert Cornthwaite), who may well be the haughitest scientist on the planet. Just to make things interesting Hendry has a relationship with the good Doctor's secretarial assistant, Nikki Nicholson (Margaret Sheridan, technically the "star" of the film). The group heads out to the crash site, where they find something buried in the ice. In one of the most famous (not to mention inexpensive) special effects shots of all time, the group traces out the shape of the buried object and discover'it is round. When attempts to use thermite to thaw out the space ship only end up destroying it, the crew finds the "pilot" has been thrown clear and frozen in a block of ice, which they obligingly take back to the station and where an electric blanket used so the armed guard does not have to look at that thing in the ice serves as the deus ex machina for getting the creature out and about. Mayhem then ensues. Note: I remember people referring to the Thing (played by James Arness, who avoids monster makeup as the heroic FBI agent in another classic 50's sci-fi film, "Them!") as the "carrot monster" movie because the creature is more like a sentient vegetable than any animal.

Unlike "Them" where the military willingly listens to the nice elderly scientists to get the big bad giant ants, "The Thing" has a more complex socio-political sub-text. Dr. Carrington declares "Knowledge is more important than life" and pontificates about how "There are no enemies in science, only phenomena to be studied." Offering a more objective point of view is Ned "Scotty" Scott (Douglas Spenser), a reporter who came along for the ride and stumbled onto the story of the century, who pointedly asks, "What can we learn from that thing except a quicker way to die?" Thus we have a conflict in the group between the scientists and the military men, although in the end it is Carrington alone who refuses to see the errors of his freethinking ways. But more importantly, Captain Hendry is not the true hero of the piece, and one of the great running gags of this film is that he is always trying to catch up with the plots of his crew, especially Bob (Dewey Martin) the crew chief, whether in regards to finding a way of dealing with the carrot monster or trying to get their captain to settle down with Nikki. Another great thing about this film is that the romantic subplot is one of the most unromantic subplots in movie history, having to do mostly with what may or may not have been said during a drinking engagement on a previous weekend.

This is one of those science fiction films where if you do not love it then you probably have not seen it, although you have probably seen people watching "The Thing" since it pops up in both "Halloween" and "Scream." Not until "Alien" do we have such a superb combination of science fiction and horror, and I would still pick the simple elegance of this 50 year old film over the special effects of Ridley Scott's film. Just compare two scenes from these films to prove by point: the chest-buster scene from "Alien" and the gieger-counter scene from "The Thing." In 2001 "The Thing" was added to the National Film registry, which is a totally appropriate piece of timing. Finally, remember: "Watch the skies, everywhere! Keep looking. Keep watching the skies!"

Terrible
I saw all the wonderful reviews of this "classic" film and decided to go out and buy a copy. Was I dissappointed. Don't let anybody fool you about this film. Perhaps it was good compared to other horror films released in its time but even that is hard to believe. Now, I don't claim to be a maven of the "horror" genre but this film just didn't live up to its expectations. Aside from the fact that I found the plot development to be rather slow and drawn out, the acting really turned me off. I didn't find the acting to be natural as others seem to believe. The acting was so contrived it was disturbing(and not in a horrific way). I felt like the dialogue was rushed and that each character felt they needed to churn out their lines as fast as possible, which really made me nervous listening to it. And in this hurried fashion, the characters interrupted each other often resulting in much of the dialogue being muffled and lost. This was my main concern with the movie. It lacked the emotion and convincing acting necessary to enthrall the viewer in the characters' dillema. One thing's for sure. I'm never watching this movie again.

The scariest movie I have ever seen
This is one movie that really scared me as a kid when I first saw it and still gives me the creeps. I love the actors, dialog, scenery and the story. This movie will give anyone the "willies". Everytime it is on tv I get caught up again watching it. Hollywood cannot make movies like this anymore. The new movies I watch (maybe) once and forget about them. The Thing I can watch over and over. Margaret Sheridan is so cute.

"Keep your eyes on the sky"
The Thing from Another World is a highly entertaining mix of the horror and sci-fi genre with a perfect blend of the two. In the North Pole, a team of scientists reports the crash of an unidentified spacecraft near their base camp. The Air Force sends a team in to investigate what happened. Once there, they find an alien spacecraft, but it is destroyed while they are trying to remove it from the ice. However, the group does find a passenger frozen in ice which they take back to the research laboratories. When the creature accidentaly thaws from the ice, the Air Force pilots and the researchers are in for more than they bargained for. What makes this movie enjoyable is that the Thing is not seen for much of the movie allowing the viewer to imagine what it possibly looks like which makes everything a little more tense and nerveracking. Made on a low budget, The Thing is quickly paced with sharp dialogue that never slows down. A classic sci-fi/horror movies from Howard Hawkes that shouldn't be missed.

Kenneth Tobey stars as Captain Patrick Hendry, the by-the-book, courageous leader of the Air Force team sent in to investigate the crash of the spacecraft. Robert Cornthwaite plays Dr. Carrington, the scientist who wants to preserve the Thing because he holds progress in science above all else. Douglas Spencer plays journalist, Scotty, who wants to break the big news to the world. Margaret Sheridan plays Nikki, the love interest for Captain Hendry. Hendry's crew includes James Young, Dewey Martin, Robert Nichols, and William Self. James Arness of future Gunsmoke fame plays the Thing. The movie also stars Eduard Franz, John Dierkes, Nicholas Bryon, George Fenneman, and Paul Frees. The DVD offers fullscreen presentation and the theatrical trailer. For an exciting, well-made horror/scifi movie, check out The Thing from Another World! ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Hayley in her element
Hayley Mills stars in the Disney thriller THE MOON-SPINNERS, a sinister and menacing story set against the dramatic backdrop of the island of Crete.

Nicky Ferris (Hayley Mills) and her aunt (Joan Greenwood) are travelling through Europe. Her aunt is a music historian from the BBC and is recording folk songs from the remote villages.

They travel into Crete, staying at the Moon-Spinners Inn, run by a kindly lady (Irene Papas) and her young son. However, some shady dealings are being done, with the owner's brother (Eli Wallach) heavily into astrology and smuggling.

Nicky finds herself thrown into a world of espionage and theft, and finds the love of her life.

Also featuring Pola Negri in a rare film appearance, THE MOON-SPINNERS is one of Hayley Mill's best Disney films.

EXCELLENT MOVIE
I first read the novel "Moon Spinners" by Mary Stewart and enjoyed the book thoroughly. When I saw that there was a movie based on the novel I was a little skeptical, but Disney usually does a great job so I decided to give it a try. If you like Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries, you will definitely enjoy this movie. Hayley Mills is wonderful as usual and the movie contains great suspense and mystery with just a touch of romance. I liked it so much, that I purchased the movie so that I could watch whenever I wished.

Now I want to go to Crete and have an adventure!!!!
The Moon-Spinners has to be one of my favorite movies of all time. Hayley Mills is the all-american girl....err...except for the fact that she's English (it makes no sense, but it is completely true). She gives a genuine performance and most girls can relate to her. I will not deny that this movie is completely cheesy, but it is all in the best way. This movie has everything; adventure, romance, drama, mystery, and is set in the beautiful isle of Crete. The love story is unique and original and will make you smile all over. This movie was acclaimed for being Hayley Mill's first onscreen kiss and I have to admit that it's a good one. I love how this movie embodies the essence of crete, with the beautiful beaches and little villages. I recommend this movie to people of all ages.

I love this movie, but...
I will not buy the DVD until I can get it in a W-I-D-E-S-C-R-E-E-N Edition!!! What good is beautiful Crete if it's panned, scanned,sliced, diced, and squashed? I want the whole picture, not 2/3rds!

Great movie! Full of exitment and adventure!
I think this is a wonderful movie that can be seen again and again! The acting is very good and there are some exiting moments to add suspense.
Hayley Mills and Peter McEnerny are both exellent in their roles and the acting of Irene Papas and Eli Wallach was also very good. You should get this movie and watch it with your children, it will be a great experience! ... Read more

Description

Three-generational epic saga of the Sanchez family as told by the eldest son. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

great acting and a great cast.
My Family chronicles the Sanchez family over three generations. From the parents migration from Mexico to East LA. The movie shows the struggle of the Immigrants to survive in America with the lack of education, but a determination to improve their lives in America. The family is split by the cynical views of the rebel sons Chucho(Esai Morales) and Jimmy(Jimmy Smits) and the political views of the NUN(eventually marries) sister and her also political (former priest) husband, and the educated lawyer brother, who is engaged to the white girl from UCLA and is slightly embarrassed when his future in-laws visit EAST LA. All the time the Sanchez family is struggling with their lives Jose and Maria try to keep the family together. The movie trys to show the diversity that can occur in the lives of this mexican/american family and the culture associated with a typical family of that ERA it illustrates some of the hostile feelings felt by this familiy of their perceived prujudices against them by the establishment. The characters all go thru some transformations as they mature. James Olmos as the oldest son Paco and his narration is the movie. Esai Morales and Jimmy Smits turn in some brilliant performances, and my wife swoons at every scene with them both. They have mastered the 50'S/60'S Pachucos roles. The allstar cast of LA Latin Actors Enrique Castillo, Morales , Olmos are excellent as always and aptly supported by Mary Steenburgen and Scott Baculla as well as the other latino actors Lupe Ontiveros Jennifer Lopez and others. If you are of thAt ERA and ethinic background this movie is a must. Its a great family movie and just as awakening as AMERICAN ME AND ZOOT SUIT. In closing, being of that 50's era and my Mexican background I especially enjoyed the generous portions of the slang and music references throuhout the movie to recreate the way it was back then, and referencing an actual artist Rosie and the originals (Jeanette Jurado of Expose) was genius on the part of the director/Author Mr. Nava. Addios Vince Guillen from Burque.

Powerful Movie
I first saw this movie in 1995 when it was first released in theaters. Nine years later, the movie still has the same effect as it did when I first saw it. Although my experiences and my family's experiences are not identical to the ones experienced by the Sanchez family, there are similarities, and I'm sure many other Mexican-Americans can identify with the small things that make this movie so good.

What makes this movie so good is that the director, Gregory Nava, captures the nuances that many Mexican-Americans can relate to. 'Crossing the Bridges,' as Edward James Olmos explains, is something that the patriarch of the family must do when he goes to work on the other side of downtown LA. What's so strange is that many people continue to cross those bridges every day of their lives (literally and figuratively).

Little things like this as well as Chucho's pride in having the best creased pants, the mother's passion for her 'novelas,' and Jimmy Smits' hard personality really give this movie a feeling of familiarity. I also like the fact that Memo goes to UCLA.

The casting is good, and it's weird to see Jennifer Lopez in small roles like this before her rise to stardom. While the movie may not identically reflect the experiences of every Mexican-American, it will be hard not to see some parallels.

My Family
One of the best movies I have ever seen!

my family
best mexican american story line of the struggle most mexican families live. Good story line and very good actors.

Nice epic look at one family and their trials
Jimmy SMits really nails this role. He does such a great job it was kind of surprising that his film career never really got off the ground. He's just meant for television, I suppose. But you'd never know it from this film! Excellent storyline, plot, characters. ... Read more